ASSOCIATION OF HUMAN-PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE-11 WITH CARCINOMA OF THE PENIS

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are epithelium-tropic viruses associated with several cutaneous, epithelial, and mucosal lesions. The oncogeni c potential varies considerably among the more than 70 different genot ypes so far identified. HPV 6 and 11 are generally found in benign gen ital condilomata or laryngeal papillomas, but they have been sporadica lly associated with genital malignancies. Polymerase chain reaction (P CR) primed by degenerated consensus oligonucleotides (from a late regi on of the HPV genome) allows one to amplify a broad spectrum of HPV, w hereas the amplification with specific primers is restricted to a limi ted number of HPVs. Therefore, the restriction fragment length polymor phism assay permits one to identify the HPV type present in the PCR pr oduct. We report a case of an invasive verrucous carcinoma of the peni s associated with HPV 11, a type previously considered noncarcinogenic . (C) 1998, Elsevier Science inc. All rights reserved.